The best New York real estate training offers flexible learning, career guidance, and the tools needed to pass the licensing exam. Whether you’re just starting or leveling up your career, I’ve rounded up the top options to help you find the best online real estate school in New York. Let’s jump right in!
| School | Best for |
|---|---|
| New York Real Estate Institute | Local New York support |
| Aceable Agent | Mobile-first learning |
| Kaplan | Career-focused learning |
| Colibri Real Estate | Exam prep tools |
| RealEstateU | Budget-friendly licensing |
As a real estate agent, I earned my license through an online real estate school, so I understand firsthand what actually matters when choosing the right program. From staying motivated in a self-paced course to relying on quality exam prep tools, I know which features make a difference when you’re trying to pass and get started in the industry.
For this guide, I combined my personal experience with in-depth research to evaluate how each school performs in real-world learning scenarios. At The Close, our goal is to provide clear, practical, and unbiased guidance so you can confidently choose a school that sets you up for success.
Sophia Doyle
Staff Writer-The Close
- The Close’s top picks for the best online real estate schools in New York
- New York Real Estate Institute: Best for local New York support
- AceableAgent: Best for mobile-first learning
- Kaplan: Best for career-focused learning
- Colibri Real Estate: Best for exam prep
- RealEstateU: Best for budget-friendly licensing
- How to become a real estate agent in New York
- Methodology
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Your Take
The Close’s top picks for the best online real estate schools in New York
| School | The Close score | Starting price | Promo code | School |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York Real Estate Institute | 4.4 | $495 | TheClose40 - Save 40% | Visit New York Real Estate Institute |
| Aceable Agent | 4.3 | $239 | No promo code yet | Visit Aceable Agent |
| Kaplan | 4.3 | $349 | KAPRE5 - Save 5% | Visit Kaplan |
| Colibri Real Estate | 3.9 | $331.67 | Click our AceableAgent link - Save 25% | Visit Colibri Real Estate |
| RealEstateU | 3.5 | $149 | TheClose10 - Save $10 | Visit RealEstateU |
New York Real Estate Institute: Best for local New York support
My expert opinion on the New York Real Estate Institute
New York Real Estate Institute (NYREI) earns the top spot for offering one of the strongest combinations of flexibility, local expertise, and student support for aspiring New York agents. Unlike online-only schools, NYREI offers students the option to choose among self-paced online learning, livestream classes, and in-person instruction, making it a great fit for different learning styles. I also like that it is deeply focused on the New York market, so students get a more localized learning experience instead of a one-size-fits-all national course.
New York Real Estate Institute cost
NYREI offers competitive pricing to accommodate both online and in-class learning. Below is an overview of their course pricing:
| Type of Education | ||
|---|---|---|
| Prelicensing |
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| Continuing education |
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| Broker prelicensing |
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| Exam prep |
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AceableAgent: Best for mobile-first learning
My expert opinion on AceableAgent
AceableAgent is a strong choice for New York students who want a modern, mobile-first way to complete their real estate education. Its dedicated app, audio narration, interactive lessons, and Mastery Tracking System make it easier to study in smaller chunks and keep track of your progress. I especially like that AceableAgent feels less like a traditional online textbook and more like a course built for students who want flexibility, convenience, and a more engaging learning experience.
AceableAgent cost
Whether students prefer a fully self-directed experience or need additional tools, AceableAgent offers a pricing tier to suit their needs.
| Type of Education | ||
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| Prelicensing |
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| Continuing education |
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| Exam prep |
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Kaplan: Best for career-focused learning
My expert opinion on Kaplan
Kaplan is a great option for aspiring New York real estate agents who want more than just the required prelicensing hours. Its courses are structured, detailed, and supported by helpful study tools like practice questions, exam prep packages, and instructor support. I especially like Kaplan for students who want a more career-focused learning experience, since its resources can help bridge the gap between finishing the course and feeling ready to start working with clients.
Kaplan Cost
With flexible pricing to meet students’ different needs for support and resources, Kaplan offers everything from basic courses to comprehensive packages that include additional career tools.
| Type of Education | ||
|---|---|---|
| Prelicensing |
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| Continuing education |
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| Broker prelicensing |
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| Exam prep |
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Colibri Real Estate: Best for exam prep
My expert opinion on Colibri Real Estate
Colibri Real Estate has you covered if you want a flexible online learning experience with a serious focus on exam prep. What makes Colibri stand out is the depth of its test-prep tools, including simulated exams, readiness tracking, audio review options, flashcards, Instructor Q&A, webinars, and an AI tutor in select packages. These resources give students multiple ways to review, practice, and identify weaker areas before test day, which is why I think Colibri is one of the strongest options for exam readiness.
Colibri Real Estate cost
The Colibri Real Estate learning system offers students the option to choose from a few pricing plans that suit their budget and learning needs. You can either go for a basic package or choose from bundles inclusive of add-ons.
| Type of Education | ||
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| Prelicensing |
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| Continuing education |
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| Broker prelicensing |
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| Exam prep |
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RealEstateU: Best for budget-friendly licensing
My expert opinion on RealEstateU
RealEstateU has the most affordable prelicensing course on my list, making it an excellent choice for aspiring agents on a budget. Its self-paced online format, audio lessons, and 12-month course access make it easy to work through the required hours on your own schedule. For students who want an affordable, straightforward path to getting licensed, RealEstateU delivers solid value.
RealEstateU cost
RealEstateU is very budget-friendly. Its pricing is simple and competitive, without crazy hidden fees or huge costs for a proper education.
| Type of Education | ||
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| Prelicensing |
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| Continuing education |
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| Exam prep |
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How to become a real estate agent in New York
| Step 1: Meet New York Requirements |
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| Step 2: Complete Prelicensing Courses |
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| tep 3: Get Fingerprints & Background Check |
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| Step 4: Apply for Your New York License |
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| Step 5: Take the Real Estate Exam |
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| Step 6: Pick a Sponsoring Brokerage |
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| Step 7: Start Your Real Estate Career |
Methodology
In terms of our methodology at The Close, our team of licensed real estate professionals, writers, and editors developed a weighted rubric to evaluate each school. I spent hours researching dozens of the best NYS real estate licensing courses online to determine the top picks for our readers. The features we explored are essential for students to become successful agents and brokers in the industry.
The detailed criteria I used to determine the best online real estate school in New York included the following:
- Course features (25%)
- This comprises items that assist agents and brokers in completing their education, like pass and refund guarantees, career and instructor support, coaching, training, interactive study groups, and course extensions.
- Value (20%)
- Pricing and availability of coursework are important factors to assess. This accounts for real estate school offerings in prelicensing, post-licensing, continuing education, broker prelicensing, and exam prep.
- Learning format & accessibility (20%)
- Real estate professionals must consider the best format for their learning, which includes self-paced, on-demand video, livestream, and in-person classes. Also, accessibility across multiple devices, such as computers, tablets, and mobile devices, affects user convenience.
- Expert score (15%)
- The Close closely reviews each course for standout features, details, ease of use, and the value for money spent from a real estate expert’s perspective.
- Help and support (10%)
- If students need additional support, knowing the customer service options through phone, email, live chat, and a ticket system is necessary.
- Reputation (10%)
- This examines the reputation of each real estate school through the lens of current and past students, reviewing each provider’s customer reviews and popularity.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
You can get your New York real estate license in about three to six months, depending on how quickly you complete the required 77-hour course. Full-time students finish faster, while part-time learners may take longer. After the course, you must pass the licensing exam, which will take some time depending on your study pace.
If you don’t pass, you can retake the exam, but you’ll need to pay the exam fee again. Some online schools do offer pass guarantees, meaning they would pay for any additional testing fees after the first.
While how much you earn depends on your closed deals and your brokerage split, the average salary for a real estate agent in New York, according to ZipRecruiter, is $93,860.
No. You do not need a sponsoring broker to complete your prelicensing course or take the exam, but you do need a New York-licensed sponsoring broker for your salesperson license to be issued. It’s smart to start researching brokerages while you are finishing your course or studying for the exam.
Your Take
Of the several online real estate schools in New York, you’ll find courses and training that fit almost every learning style, budget, and career objective. Whether you need flexibility in self-paced options or prefer hands-on guidance, there is a program to suit your needs.
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